Multiple electrical box mounting system having removable rings

• US 6,323,424 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Cable Technologies Corporation (General Cable Corporation)
• Original Assignee: P & R Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: He, Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Dhiru R
• Application Number:
  US09/533,228
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 174/58, 174/50, 174/60, 174/17.R, 248/906, 248/27.1, 439/535, 220/3.3, 220/3.5, 220/3.92, 220/3.94, 220/4.02, 220/3.2, 220/3.6
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets

Abstract

A generally planar electrical box mounting bracket is securable to a convenient wall stud and is supported by a wall spacer. The bracket defines an aperture and a pair of countersunk recesses diagonally positioned with respect to the aperture. A pair of flushmounting fasteners are received within the countersunk recesses and threadably engaged the tabs of an electrical box to secure the electrical box against the interior or rear face of the bracket. A second pair of fasteners are positioned diagonally at opposite corners with respect to the center aperture and are used to secure an electrical box ring upon the front face of the bracket. The attachment of the electrical box ring is independent of the attachment of the electrical box to the bracket thereby facilitating the removal and assembly of the electrical box ring to the bracket without disturbing the attachment of electrical box. In an alternate embodiment, a generally planar electrical box mounting bracket is securable to a convenient pair of adjacent wall studs which defines a plurality of apertures and pairs of countersunk diagonal recesses.

Claims

1. An electrical box assembly comprising:

a generally planar bracket having opposed ends defining wall stud apertures therein and said bracket having a plurality of box apertures, a front face, a rear face, a plurality of first pairs of fastener apertures each pair diagonally positioned with respect to one of said box apertures, a plurality of pairs of countersunk recesses each pair diagonally positioned with respect to one of said box apertures and each defining a second pair of fastener apertures therein;

a plurality of electrical boxes each having an open face, a frontal edge and a pair of diagonally positioned inwardly extending tabs each tab having a tab aperture formed therein;

a plurality of pairs of flushmount fasteners each having a threaded portion and a fastener head, said pairs of flushmount fasteners being received in said countersunk recesses such that said fastener heads are received in said recesses and said threaded portions pass through said second pair of fastener apertures and engage said tab apertures to secure one of said edges of said electrical boxes against said rear surface;

a plurality of electrical box rings each having a flange defining a pair of slots and a riser portion; and

a plurality of pairs of threaded fasteners each threadably engaging said first pairs of fastener apertures,

said electrical box rings being secured to said front face of said bracket by said pairs of threaded fasteners in said first pairs of fastener apertures such that said flanges are placed against said front face overlying said fastener heads of said pairs of flushmount fasteners.

2. The electrical box assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein said countersunk recesses are generally conically shaped and wherein said fastener heads of said pair of flushmount fasteners are conically shaped to be received therein.

3. The electrical box assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein said wall stud apertures in said bracket comprise aperture pairs and wherein said wall stud apertures receive fasteners to secure said bracket to adjacent wall studs.

4. An electrical box assembly comprising:

a plurality of electrical boxes;

a plurality of rings;

a generally planar bracket defining a plurality of box apertures formed therein, a rear surface for supporting said plurality of electrical boxes, a front surface for supporting said plurality of rings and opposed end portions each end portion defining a plurality of wall stud apertures; and

a plurality of fasteners received within said wall stud apertures to secure said opposed ends to a pair of wall studs.

5. The electrical box assembly set forth in claim 4 wherein said plurality of box apertures includes a center box aperture positioned at the general mid point of said bracket.

6. The electrical box assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein said plurality of box apertured is three.